THE. NE.W YORKER During Nixon's years in politics, American capitalism has become a sys- tem in which the production of goods requires less energy, Imagination, and in ven tiveness than does the distribution of what is produced, and the business- men seeking political influence have not been old-fashioned captains of industry but ne\ver breeds from the sales, pro- rnotion, and advel tising departments. The nineteenth-century robber barons wanted political influence and pur- chased it with cash. But few of them became personally involved with poli- tics, because their knowledge and ex- perience did not qualify them for it. They were 111asters of the steam loco- rnotive but not of what Lenin called the locomotive of history. In our time, however, what is generally regarded as business talent has less to do with pIO- duction or engineering or even, for that matter, banking than with n1a- nipulative techniques that are not unlike those employed in politics. It is note- worthy that among the leading Water- gate figures there was not one-unless the Senate includes Nixon among theITI-with any stature either in tradi- tional professional politics or in industry in the old sense. Except for a few skilled electronic technicians who worked with "the plumbers," the key figures are all manipulators of one sort or another, and herein, perhaps, bes the key to both their successes and their failures. In many respects, our system fails us in preventing political wrongdoing, but it is plainly more vigilant toward poli- ticians than toward private operators. It Inight have been expected that Nix- on, with his decades of experience, would have thought of this, but clear- ly he did not, and this may just pos- sibly be because he hImself, though he has had no other career, has never seemed much at home in politics and has apparently preferred both the com- pany and the methods of the operators to those of professional politicians, among whom the least thoughtful might have been expected to act with greater prudence. If there is a lesson in this, it ought to sink in for at least as many years as Watergate is re- mem bered; as things look now, it will not be forgotten in this century, and perhaps not in the next one, either. I N its early stages, Watergate was too complicated to arouse ITIuch in- terest abroad, but in time it did, and newspapers all over the world have been following it closelv. It is too early to know whether it has done us much damage-most observers think it hasn't, and 1 eport .::In increased respect for us 93 TRAVEL THE WORLD OF LINDBLAD y '. .1 " , '*' 1# ;i>,.::-:. / w þ ...... ... ".. .-=:.... /. .. 3'< : . , *' '* q .. .//. ". ......:.)$:.-. <. <-t.. " ^ '+ w. - . - ::-.:::æ-....:. ' y"" '<< , < .>,..,J " : ', " <"""", ,:,. :': .....: :f:-. ::.. ..... . . .. '* '4ii. ,'IiIo ", ì!i'" .,. :, Æ . .vJ \1' It ,. $ ,\' ' .:-":,," ,<' :'. : "., "'- :>.-: '\ .:":". ': ".:-:.;... Lindblads Jap nese Nature Tour -a seldom encountered, totally different Japan. Lars-Eric Lindblad s new Japanese Na- ture Tour was designed to give you an insight to a Japan - far removed from ItS Industrial complexes-a Japan which IS still unspoiled by urban population ex- plosion Much of the flora and fauna you will come upon has been designated as a special national treasure and a great part of the journey will be spent In na- tional parks You will visit many Islands besides Kyushu, Honshu and Hokkaido In addition to an abundance of bird and animal life you will see spectacular pn- meval forests, hot springs, Japan's deepest lakes, wild flowers and onental botanical gardens You will devote lei- sure time In fascinating Japanese Inns This Japanese Nature Tour is Indeed an unusual adventure There will be five tours In 1974,startlng May 4 We suggest you write early for ou r Informative color brochure LINDBLAD TRAVEL, INC. Dept NYA3474 133 East 55th Street New York N Y 10022 (212) /51-2300 The American CLAS SIC :: ., . , , " ':< . i , ,,< ,., .<< ...,... "'" , .. \"" ;'.'" ...>'. ,, >... { .. .:. ....-=- ... ::.'. :; "Y . """ t > The contemporary, classic good taste of the beefroll moc. A confident complement to any leisure fashion. From the rich mahogany leather to the unique support sole construction, Sebago Roamers are bum rugged. Handsewn quality by Yankee craftsmen. Sebago ClassIcs available m New York at McDuffee's, Philadelphia Straw- cSEr fi bridge & Clothier, Baltimore, Hess Shoes, Denver, Fontius Shoe, Pittsburgh, Kamp s, Columbus Evans & Schwartz, Blrmmgham, Mlch , Sherman Shoes, San FrancIsco, Village Bootery, Wilmington, Del, Storm's and other fme Sebago, Inc., Westbrook, Me. 04092 stores